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Veteran Entrepreneurs Use Bunker Labs

Hannah Heine

Bunker Labs: Assisting Veterans & Military Spouses to Start Businesses

Bunker Labs is an amazing resource for veteran entrepreneurs. Through like-minded communities and classes, Bunker Labs provides the resources that can help launch a small business or startup.

About Bunker Labs

Bunker Lab launched in 2014 in Chicago, and it wasn’t long before there were other chapters in other cities. These groups were made up of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs who came together to support each other and share knowledge.

Bunker’s first online class launched in 2015 to teach entrepreneurship to members of the military community. The “Bunker In A Box” allowed everyone to learn from anywhere in the world.

Bunker Lab Communities

Veteran entrepreneurs can choose among three Bunker Labs Programs that are each designed for different stages and aspects of starting a business.

Veterans in Residence

This community is a “business incubator for early-stage startups and growth-oriented small businesses.” It is designed for entrepreneurs who have already launched a business and are looking for ways to grow.

Veterans in Residence is a partnership between Bunker Labs and WeWork, an innovative startup that launched in 2010 and has reimagined the workplace. Two cohorts launch each year, one in January and one in July, and they run six months.

CEO Circle Growth

This great community is for those entrepreneurs who have launched businesses with solid revenue streams that are looking to scale. The CEO Circle is a monthly program designed for company executives.

The CEO Circle allows founders and executives to ask questions about elevating their companies to a higher level. In 2021, there were 43 participants who’s companies averaged nearly $14 million in revenue. There are no limits to industry for those involved.

Ambassador Program

The Ambassador Program is designed for volunteers who want to help small business owners by connecting them to resources they may need.

Local Communities

Currently, there are Bunker Lab Communities in 37 cities around the country. The communities are in major metropolitan areas, and depending on where you are, there’s likely a community a short drive away.

Check out these localities and get plugged in for support as you prepare to launch your business. These communities are composed of other veterans and military spouses who are on the same adventure as you.

Bunker Lab Online Courses

If you don’t know anything about entrepreneurship, then these classes are greatly beneficial. If you don’t know if you have a scalable business idea, then these classes are the way to go.

Launch Lab Online

This is an interactive course that lays the knowledge foundation for starting your own business. These are considered introductory courses and apply to a wide audience of learners.

Finances for Military Founders & Families by USAA

This course covers the basics of money in business. Learn how to set goals and manage the challenges that face entrepreneurs from the military community.

Business Basics Series

This course brings knowledge and tools that help you launch the operations of your business as you engage with your first customers.

Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Workshops

These workshops are designed to assist people in under served communities to launch, grow, and support their businesses.

Raul Deju Institute Program

This program teaches what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Over the course of eight lectures, students will gain a deeper

Bunker Labs Partnerships

Evidently, this organization hasn’t just been growing since its inception, it has expanded to partner with major players in the business world. This growth only means that there are more opportunities, more resources, and more learning available for entrepreneurs in the military community.

Some of these partners are:

With such heavy-hitting partners, Veterans and military spouses have a ton of support to help them launch their small businesses.

Personal Testament and Conclusion

For instance, I launched my own freelance writing business over a year ago, and Bunker Labs was one of the resources I leaned on to better understand entrepreneurship. While I knew how to write and understood my “business idea”, I had little to no understanding of the business behind the business.

I registered for the online courses where I gained a better understanding of what it takes to run a business. The courses helped me see the other aspects of a writing business that are needed beyond just performing the services I offer.

If you are a veteran or military spouse and you’re thinking about starting a business, I encourage you to check out Bunker Labs. Not only will you learn business fundamentals, but you will learn how to properly refine your business idea.

So, don’t let a lack of knowledge or understanding prevent you from launching your business. Check out Bunker Labs today!

 

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